The Secret Headteacher charts an extraordinary principal's journey in diary form from the moment they took over at a failing secondary school in a deprived area of the country, where less than a quarter of children attained 5 or more A*-C GCSEs, and how they set about the gruelling task of transforming its reputation using their zero-tolerance, tough-love approach.

Armed with only a wicked sense of humour, and fearless energy and powerful vision, the head put in place a stringent set of rules including a strict uniform policy and a complete ban on mobile phones, provoking resistance and hostility from parents, the wider community and on social media.

This is the darkly funny, moving story of how together, teachers and their — often wayward — pupils rebuilt a school and community, with an inspirational head at the helm.